The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-05-26
The oRNlTHoLoelcAL PUZZLE.
Death of a Thousand Dollar Bird-Start-
ling Conversational PnNers


ling Conversational Powers.
Jack, the nondesclipt, one that has sorely
puzzled the greatest ornithologists Of Amer
lea, and forwhich the sum of 81 600 has fire.
ouently been offered and refused, died on
Thursday at the residence of its owner, Capt.
Frederic Perkins, Brooklyn. lie was re-
markable linguist, and, although of Oriental
nativity. spoke English with great huency.
a Christian Chinaman, one of thousands of
people that visited the bird, said that he was
of genus rare in the Celestial empire, but
that specimens had been infrequently seen
within about ten miles of Canton, and he at
tributed to it many of the characteristics of
the American startling. His breast and back
was of n beautiful drab or dove color, tho
wings and tail of rich velvety black tipped
with white, the head surmounted with a tuft
of black hair like feathers; legs and bill yell
low; long, sharp talons, like those of hawk,
and a small, vicious gray eye of peculiar
shape. lie was the size of kingiisher. Many
fancied that he was a Pagoda mynah TIE
menuchus pagodarulnl, but the best authori
ties repudiated the suggestion. Capt. Perkins
received the following from Professor j. b.
Holden, of the Central park geological col
lection, after forwarding a minute dcscrip-
ton of the bird and asking for its tribe:
DEAR SRI have looked over several works
that we have and find nothing conceuing the
creature. Woods Natural History of Birds /
thought would contain the most particular ac-
count, but find that t only repeats whit we all
know about mynahs. 1t saws that the uynah Is
thought to be equally intelligent with the gray
parrot, that is equally able to talk with any ether
bird. don't know of a work to recon mend to
you. General works on birds are not common.
Iwish that could direct you further, but doubt
any ones ability TO find a bool, with a reference
to the subject matter Of your inquiry
Cinnamon believe that because of the start.
ling intelligence and apparent conversational
mot merely verbal powers of the bird it
was possessed of evil spirits. His knowledge
of Chinese was unbounded Among lis mi
metic powers We're accurate limitations of
coughing, sneezing. crying, laughing, sharp
ening of knife, drawing nails, grating nut
megs, saving wood, fling Il saw, barking of a
dog and other sounds, given with wonderful
precision. 1t actually conyelsed with Capt
Perkins, and apparently was made aware Of
the approach of his master by instinct So
soon as the captain came near his home the
bird would screech a welcome of "IIello Cap,
dinner is all ready!" or, "This way for Rock
away, Cap!' He whistled an air like q
human being, and the house dog would fe.
spond to his call He understood everything
that was said to him. The captain. in pleas
ant weather, would take Jack into the street
perched upon his shoulder, but his affection
for his master was SO strong and so wonderS
fully manifested that the latter had no fear
of his elopement. "Ahr' said the captain to
the writer, Il almost feel as if had lost a
child, Talk about his value-no one could
name his price to mer-New York Times